Schizostylis Coccinea Not Flowering

Hi All, well I bought a Schizostylis plant back last autumn from a local garden centre and it's not flowered at all since i've had it. I know it supposed to flower August to September but they have been and gone and nothing. Could there be a problem which would stop it from flowering? My garden has semi-shade. Morning sun, then late afternoon sun.

But it's not just that it's other South African plants like Arctotis, Nerines, Babiana Scricta which also has not flowered for me this year. Could it be the lack of sun throughout the summer which inhibits their flowering? Any feedback will be appreciated, thanks.

 

Hi Ben - it may yet flower. Mine are flowering now - so its not too late. Other than that, I would just put it down to having had such a cold summer - as you said. Most of my perennials have flowered very little and very late.

I suspect that its the lack of heat more than the lack of sunshine. Plants respond to increased light levels, but only up to a certain point. Above that point they reach saturation and can't utilise any extra sunlight. I have a light meter and its surprising how much light you can get outside even on cloudy days. Different plants have different saturation levels, but I believe that a sunny day is well above those levels. Its the same with heat, but you need to be closer to 80F or 90F before plants have more than enough - but that too varies from plant to plant.

 

Hi Ben. My Schizostylis are flowering now, but my Nerines have only one or two flower buds forming amongst a whole clump that would normally have ten or more flowers, I think it's the miserable cold this summer too! Also, your new plant might just be a bit small to flower in it's first year?

 

Mine are flowering very well. Plenty of water this year -the way they like it. Mine had sun until 2pm (if there was any at all this year), but atm they don't get sunshine anymore with the sun being lower and the house in the way. But doesn't seem to disturb them.

 

Hi all thanks for the replies, and sorry it's so late. I've been very busy reorganising the borders and i've moved the Schizostylus where it can get more sun, so fingers crossed it will flower for me next year. When it comes to the South African plants, I will put it down to the fact it was not warm enough as they all under performed for me this year. Nice to see some of you have had flowers, they are lovely when they come out.